Dealing With Diarrhea

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"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."

Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R.

Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals.

Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.

Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women's health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists

Minor stomach complaints are typical among young children. It's important to learn how to manage them at home so you can avoid emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and prolonged discomfort.

One of the most common symptoms of tummy troubles is diarrhea — watery stools that are different in appearance and frequency than those your baby has had before. (This is an important detail, since many young infants, especially breastfed babies, normally have thin or watery stools.) Most infectious diarrheas are caused by viruses that tend to be more common in the summer but can come along anytime. There is no cure except time for these infections, which usually last several days.

The key is to give your baby plenty of fluids, even if he doesn't have much of an appetite or seem very thirsty. Continue to feed him if his diarrhea is mild. Give him bland foods that contain pectin, a fiber, in small portions throughout the day. Try applesauce, rice, bananas, and mashed potatoes. If you're formula feeding, add an extra ounce or two of water to the mix, diluting the formula slightly. Avoid teas, which don't have the necessary salts, as well as fruit juices — they can actually increase fluid loss because of their high salt content.

If your baby's stools are particularly frequent and watery (hourly, for example, and soaking through the diaper), you may need to give him 1 to 2 ounces of a commercial electrolyte solution every hour or two for a day before going back to his regular feeding pattern. If his diarrhea isn't getting better, check in with his health care provider. Whatever you do, don't give your baby any diarrhea medicine without very explicit directions from an experienced health care provider. These treatments can cause serious bowel stoppage and sedation.

FYI: Diarrhea almost always creates skin irritation in the diaper area. Change your baby frequently and apply petroleum jelly to the area — or use a diaper with petroleum embedded in the lining — to protect his skin from the burning properties of fast-running stools. When he's asleep, take his diaper off so his tender skin can get some air.

When to Call It's hard to know when to contact the health care provider, but if your child is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, call his provider immediately:

A dry mouth, lack of tears, dark urine, or acting very sick — all are signs of dehydration

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